DOCUMENT RESUME ED 081 607 SE 016 624 AUTHOR Roller, Elizabeth TITLE Outdoor and Environmental Education Manual, Grades K-6. INSTITUTION Nashville - Davidson County Metropolitan Public Schools, Tenn. PUB DATE [73] NOTE 100p. EDRS PRICE MF-$0.5 0C-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS *Eleme _ary Grades; Environmental Education; rundamental Concepts; Instructional Materials; Interdisciplinary Approach; *Learning Activities; *Natural Resources; *Outdoor Education; *Teaching Guides ABSTRACT In an effort to help elementary teachers see how the out-of-doors can be utilized in everyday teaching, this manual lists possible outdoor activities chat can be included in the school curriculum. Introductory information defines objectives of outdoor education, suggestions for evaluation of outdoor education experiences, and techniques for teaching in the out-of-doors. The activities section, divided by grade level (1-2, 3, 4, and 5-6), utilizes a conceptual approach within specific subject areas. General objectives are noted for each subject, succeeded by individual concepts and their supporting activities and follow-up. Subjects include science, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and arts/crafts/music at each level. The final segment suggests health, physical education, and recreation activities appropriate for nll grade levels. References are listed by section. (BL) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY U5 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION &WELFANE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION T h15 DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO DUCED EXACTLY AS PECE,VED ROM OUTDOOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL 74. PERSON CS ORGANIZATION ORIGIN AT.NC, ITPG'i I. '.SCI VEY: OR OPINIONS STATE I) DO NOT NECESSA4.+IY SEPNE SENT 1C,At NATIONAL NrSTTuTE Dr EDUCATION MANUAL DL,( AT1ON POSITION CI> POI ICY Grades K-6 Compiled. by Teacher Workshop (Title I) with additional raterial from the Outdoor EduCation Center, Southern Illinois University MNTROPOLITAN NASHVILLEDAVIDSON mum SCHOOLS Elizabeth Roller Coordinator of Environmental Education METROPOLITAN BOARD OF EDUCATION C. R. Dorrier, CYairman Frank P. Grisham, Vice Chairman William W. Benz, Jr. L. C. Biggs Isaiah T. Creswell Mrs. Irvin B. Eskind Walden S. Fabry W. J. Harbison Mrs. C. F. Mager nIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS Dr. Elbert D. Brooks FOREWORD This manual has been compiled in an effort to help the elementary teachers see how the out of doors can be utilized in their everyday teaching. By placing the activities under general concepts, it is hoped that the teachers can include outdoor educe.;on in their planning, and fully explore the many ways of teaching. Most of the a^tivities have been drawn from both personal experiences of the ESEA Summer Workshop in Outdoor Education and the many groups throughout the country now engaged in outdoor education. A special thanks should be extended to Dr. Tom Rillo of the Southern Illinois Center for Outdoor Education for many of the materials and activities used in this manual. This manual lists but a few of the many possible outdoor activities that can be included tr the school curriculum. TABLE OF CONTENTS Forward Objectives Suggestions for Evaluation of Outdoor Education Experiences Teaching Outdoors Techniques Mobile Unit Subject Areas Section I - first and second grade objectives, concepts, activities, and classroom follow -up Section II- third grade objectives, concepts, activities, and classroom follow-up Section III-fourth grade objectives, concepts, activities, and classroom follow-up Section IV- fifth and sixth grade objectives, concepti, activities, and classroom follow-up Section V - Physical Education Activities for All Ages Note: References follow each grade level section in the manual II Outdoor Education is a method of teaching--it is not a subject in itself, but rather uses all subject areas. There are parts of the curriculum that can best be taught in the out of doors. It is not a new idea fn education; but one which has always been used by creative teachers. Outdoor Education is not an attempt to do away with the clatAroom, but rather to broaden thescope of enrichment in teaching and better prepare children for living in our world. Children, wherever they live and whatever they do, in and out of school, meet problems that involve both experiences and understandings. They achieve these understandings best through first-hand experiences and actual, purposeful con- tacts with materials, forces and processes that affect their own lives. To be effective, teaching must be closely related to circumstances that will arise outside the classroom. Young, or old, we learn best by doing.The more realistic the learning activity is, the more meaningful and lasting will be the lesson.There is little justification for merely looking at something whiChrcan be touched and handled or used, or for just textbook presentations 4 when the real life situations are At hand. In the outdoor laboratory, the pupil may, through observation and direct experience, develop appreciations, skills and understandings that will supplement the indoor curriculum of the school. Outdoor Education, then, has become a practical approach to aspects of those subjects which are normally taught only in the classroom. Outdoor Education is the effective utilization of the natural environment to help promote the growth, welfare and total education of the student. OBJECTIVES OF OUTDOOR EDUCATION 1, To provide a method for integrating specific oubject matter areas 2. To reinforce classroom learning through actual experience 3. To prwide children with an appreciation of nature and the world about them 4. To provide an interesting method of presenting curriculum 5,, To enrich the existing curriculum fo provide motivation for classroom learning III SUGGESTIONS FOR EVALUATION OF OUTDOOR EDUCATION EXPERIENCES (Adapted from Southern Illinois University - Dr. Tom Rillo) A. Suggested evaluations for observation: 1. Were the objectives for the day clearly planned, stated, and under- stood by all? 2. Was the group adequately prepared? a)clothing, b)equipment, c)reference materials, and d)background information for areas of study 3. How \large was thr group? (ratio of leader to the pupils) 4. Were\the group objectives flexible enough to permit unplanned learn- ing a ivities? 5. Were alof the children actively involved in the learning process? (learning by doing) 6. Did they appear to be having fun at the same time that they were learning? 7. Did the leader provide too many answers to the children's questions? 8. Was the atmosphere of discovery, exploration, and problem solving evident? 9. How well did the group Seem to understand the vocabulary and concepts presented? 10. Did the lessons appear to hold the children's interest? 11. Was the length of time adequate for each lesson taught? 12. Were the uses of many of the five senses utilized in the learning process? 13. Did the leader have adequate control and supervision in guiding the children's learning experiences? 14. Were necessary safety precautions observed when walking through the woods and fields? 15. Do you feel that those lessons taught iu the out-of-doors were best learned there rather than in a classroom? 16. Were some of the learning experiences correlated with what was being studied in the classroom? B. Evaluation of individual student participation 1. Teachers may choose written evaluation on content areas. 2. Teachers should observe participation. 3. Evaluate concepts taught--not specific content. Evaluation of the program of Outdoor Education can only come as the teacher sees the children ap2roach the problems and ideas with understanding and aware- ness. The teacher, herself, will be the best judge of whether the outdoor experi- ence has enriched the individual child and his knowledge. , IV TEACHING OUTDOORS iggimouEq. (Adapted from Southern Illinois University - Dr. Tom Rillo) Problem solving situations in Outdoor Education: 1. Criteria for the :;election of the problems a. The problems should involve the conservation of plants, animals and other physical and cultural resources. b. The problems shoula be most effectively examined in the outdoors environment. c. The solvimg of the problems should take a maximum of two or three hours in the out -of- doors. d. The problems should be suitable for solving by inters diate and junior level pupils. e. The equipment necessary for solving the problems should be availa- ble through borrowing, inexpensive purchasing or constructing by teachers or students. 2. Size of group should be kept small, when possible Classes may be organized into committees to work on different aspects of the problcms to be solved, 3. Sites available for Outdoor Education a. school grounds b. community walks c. field trips d. day center outdoor school for more than one day's study 3. OUTDOOR EDUCATION FOR GRADES I AND II Aim: To present activities in the out of doors that will help teach concepts developed in the school program. Science General objectives: A. To be able to recognize some of the common plants and animals in the local area B. To understand some of the interrelationship of plants and animals in dif- ferent environments of the local area C. To know uses of,plants and animals D. To see how weather affects everything E*. To understand how rocks and soil work together &mot IVAAL_I b 11.1nit airj (activities) Find wind speed with wind measurer (card, thread and balloon - see diagram below) and flag movement. Find wind direction with balloon and bird feather vane. Compare effect of objects (such as building or vegetation) on wind., Discuss the air--where is it?Can I feel, hear, taste or smell it? Can,it move, push?Can I live without it7 See how wind helps plant by throwing light objects in the air to see them move. Blow dandelion seeds. ardboard (numbered) (activities) Compare size of soil particles (shake up soiin a jar of water and let it settle). Compare color of soil in different places. Smell soil to find out if it has an odor. Compare color of moisture of soil from the surface to two feet deep (use soil auger).